How to Find the Best Optometrist In Your Area

Has your vision been a little fuzzy lately? Do you feel like you’ve been seeing the world in a low-resolution?

Getting a new pair of glasses or contacts can feel like upgrading from VHS to Blu-ray.

The world is filled with details you haven’t noticed in years.

Leaves have edges. Street signs actually have letters. You can finally see texture.

There are tons of websites where you can buy corrective lenses from your own home, but to get a prescription you need an appointment with an optometrist.

But if it’s been a while since you’ve had an appointment, finding the best optometrist can be a chore. How can you sort through all the optometrists with different specialties to find one that offers the services you need?

In this article, we’ll take a look at everything you need to keep in mind when looking for the best optometrist. And if you find yourself squinting to read this, you’re going to want to pay special attention.

Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, and Opticians: What’s the Difference?

There are three types of specialists who work with the eyes: ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians. They might specialize in the same part of the body, but they’re in vastly different fields.

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialized in the eye in medical school. They are licensed to prescribe contacts and glasses, as well as diagnose and treat diseases of the eye and perform surgeries.

Optometrists do not have a medical degree. They did not attend medical school, but they did attain a degree from a four-year optometry school.

Most of an optometrist’s time is spent performing vision tests and prescribing corrective lenses. They do not treat any diseases or operate on patients.

However, optometrists are trained to screen for diseases and other conditions. They wouldn’t perform the surgeries themselves, but they can refer you to a competent ophthalmologist.

Opticians are technicians who specialize in corrective lenses. They typically do not perform vision tests themselves, but they do work with optometrists to fit glasses and contacts.

While an optician might help you with your corrective lenses, you wouldn’t make your appointment with one.

Some retail stores, like Wal-Mart, have eye-care centers that are staffed by opticians. While they may be able to fill your eyeglasses prescription, this is not a satisfactory substitute for regular appointments with an optometrist.

Before you start looking for an eye doctor, keep in mind what sort of services you are looking for. If you have no serious eye conditions, you will be fine choosing a general optometrist.

Looking for the Best Optometrist

When you narrow down what type of treatment you will need, it’s time to begin searching for a good eye doctor.

Before you blindly scroll through Google results for “best optometrist in my area,” ask around for some recommendations.

Ask Your Doctor

Your general care doctor frequently refers patients to specialists. This includes eye specialists.

But not only that: They are also intimately aware of your own specific health needs. As such, they will be able to point you to the best optometrist for you.

Ask Your Friends

Statistics show that 75% of Americans wear some sort of corrective lenses. Chances are, you know some of them.

Take to social media. Ask your friends on Facebook where they go for eye care. They’ll be sure to let you know which optometrists are worth trusting — and which to steer clear of.

Check Professional Organizations

If your doctor and friends don’t prove as helpful as you’d hope — or if you’d like to be more thorough — you can dig a little deeper.

You can use these directories to find licensed eye doctors in your area. Many of these directories will also allow you to sort by subspecialty and view their credentials and experience.

Check with Your Insurance Network

As you narrow down your search for the best optometrist in town, it’s not enough to consider your optometry needs.

You also need to make sure that they are covered in your insurance network. If not, all of the research you’ve done up to that point will be in vain.

Your insurance agent may also be able to give you a few leads to find a good doctor. After all, you’re not the only client they have. Your agent will be able to point you to the optometrists that most of their clients trust with their eyes.

Schedule a Visit

When you think you’ve found an optometrist you like, it’s time to see for yourself.

Set up a visit to the top optometrist on your list.

After the appointment, ask yourself some questions.

Did you spend a long time in the waiting room? No one likes an appointment that doesn’t start when it’s supposed to. If your first appointment is delayed, it might be a sign of what’s to come.

Were you satisfied with the care you received? Did you feel like the appointment was thorough enough to cover any issues that might come up? A hasty optometrist can miss issues that might become much larger problems.

How was the communication? The best optometrist is one that listens to your concerns and answers your questions. If they brush off your input, you won’t get the sort of individualized care you deserve.

And most importantly: Were you comfortable? If you’re going to have a long-term relationship with this doctor, you want to make sure you enjoy the experience. If there was anything about the appointment that set you on edge, keep looking.

Find Your Optometrist Today

When you’ve completed all these steps and found an optometrist you trust, it’s time to commit. Our eyes change over time. A long-term optometrist can stay on top of these changes and keep you seeing clearly.

Don’t deal with blurry vision a day longer than you have to. Find an optometrist today, and start seeing clearly!